Before: How the 100-year-old stone house, which comes with a 192-acre estate, looked when Prince Charles bought it for £1.2 million two years ago

Builders were still working on the house yesterday morning - just hours before the couple were due to arrive - but finished on time, according to Charles's spokesman. Works on other parts of the estate are still on-going, however.

According to those in the know, it has a distinctly Welsh feel with traditional textiles, fabrics and furnishing from the local area as well as artefacts and antiques.

Most notably there is a Welsh dresser given to the Queen on her coronation by the people of what was then Cardiganshire, which returns to Wales for the first time.

A Clarence House spokesman said: 'The Prince has for some time wanted to have a base in Wales and he is particularly looking forward to thanking all those craftsmen and builders who have done such a fantastic job in renovating the property in time for his annual summer visit.'

All smiles: A glowing Camilla greets a group of children during her visit to the Solva school in Wales

A source added: 'They are expected to make a report detailing any complaints and suggestions to make visitors more comfortable afterwards - and as everybody knows, the prince is very exacting.'

Nestling next to the Black Mountains, the house is actually owned by the Duchy of Cornwall, the estate which provides the prince with his £14million annual income.

The Duchy has spent tens of thousands of pound bringing the house up to date, including a sympathetically-designed extension.

When Charles bought the property it looked as if it hadn't been decorated since the 1970s, with a shocking pink master bedroom and a tiny sitting room complete with three-piece brown velour suite .